Webster is a small town of about 16,000 (add 2,500 or so more in summer) in South County region of Central Massachusetts along the Connecticut border. It was founded in 1832 by Samuel Slater, one of the initiators of the United States Industrial Revolution.
Understand
[edit]- Town of Webster municipal website
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Webster is located on I-395, which connects the town to Worcester in the north as well as the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) for travelers coming from east or west. I-395 runs south into Connecticut all the way to I-95 in New London.
By public transportation
[edit]Webster can be reached from Worcester using the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's Route 42 Bus.
By plane
[edit]The nearest commercial airport is Worcester Regional Airport in Worcester, about 25 minutes away from Webster. Add 5-10 minutes if heading somewhere in Dudley. It has daily service to JFK International Airport in New York as well as occasional flights to destinations in Florida.
Get around
[edit]
By car
[edit]Webster is easily navigated by car. Most attractions are located either on or close to the main thoroughfares (Route 12 and Route 16). Main Street and East Main Street can be congested during the morning and mid and late afternoon, but otherwise traffic is usually not a problem.
By public transportation
[edit]Parts of Webster and Dudley can be accessed by bus using either the Worcester Regional Transit Authority Route 42 or Webster-Dudley-Southbridge Shuttle. These routes serve downtown Webster and Main St leading in either direction, but not much else.
On foot
[edit]Downtown Webster and the neighboring bits of Dudley are walkable, but the two towns cover a fairly large land area and reaching places outside of downtown on foot will require lengthy walks in areas without any pedestrian infrastructure.
See
[edit]- 1 Samuel Slater Experience, 31 Ray St, Webster, ☏ +1 508 461-2955. Museum focused on textile manufacturing and the life of Samuel Slater, one of the fathers of the Industrial Revolution.
- 2 French River Park (Webster Riverwalk), 39 Davis St (The footpath begins off of Davis Street, a short walk from Main Street). A small park and footpath along the French River.
Do
[edit]- 1 Lake Chaubunagungamaug (Webster Lake). The beautiful spring-fed lake was a critical fishing site the Nipmuc of the area and later supported shoe and textile industry. A 45-letter joke name, Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, is also frequently used and is the longest place name in the United States (and contains the most uses of the letters "g" and "a" in any English word). Watch the sailboat races every Sunday in summer. Fish, swim or boat from the 17 mile shoreline the famous 1442 acre lake. Fishing is mostly for smallmouth bass, pickerel or perch. The town appropriates money for stocking the lake. The lake has excellent white sandy beaches. Point Breeze, Indian Inn, and Bates Grove are favorite picnic areas. There is a boat ramp at 98 Lakeside Ave.
- 2 Memorial Beach, 10 Memorial Beach Dr. Has a swim beach and boat docks. Website has list of fees.
- 3 Indian Ranch, 200 Gore Rd, Webster, ☏ +1 508 943-3871. Large concert venue and campground on a lake. Also runs the Indian Princess paddle boat at Pier #1.
- 2 Memorial Beach, 10 Memorial Beach Dr. Has a swim beach and boat docks. Website has list of fees.
- 4 Webster Fish & Game Associates, 91 Gore Road, ☏ +1 508 943-9806. Disc golf course
- 5 XTreme Lazer, 51 Thompson Rd, ☏ +15089492695. F 5–9 PM, Sa 11AM–9PM, Su noon–7 PM. Laser tag and arcade center
Buy
[edit]- 1 The Vault Adult Cannabis Dispensary, 70 Worcester Rd, Unit 225, Webster, ☏ +1 774 520-2420.
- 2 Booklover's Gourmet, 72 E Main St, ☏ +15089496232. M Tu Th-Sa 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-6PM, Su closed. A cozy bookstore with a cafe.
- 3 Flower Garden Florist & Gifts, 72 E Main St, ☏ +1 508 943-5800. M-F 9:30AM-4PM. Flower and gift shop
- 4 Brunello's Western Boots, 170 Thompson Rd, ☏ +1 774 334-2060. M-Sa noon-6PM, Su closed. Hand-crafted country western boots, hats, and accessories.
Eat
[edit]Lakefront
[edit]- 1 Point Breeze, 114 Point Breeze Rd, ☏ +1 508 943-0404. On a peninsula in the middle of Webster Lake, with a beautiful view of the water.
- 2 Lake Pizza & Restaurant, 39 Thompson Rd, ☏ +1 508 943-3684.
- 3 Waterfront Mary's 22, 103 Birch Island Rd (Take Birch Island Rd off of Thompson Rd. Continue around the bend out onto the peninsula in Webster Lake. Turn onto Pavilion Ave, continue a short way and the restaurant will be on your left. If you are arriving via boat, the restaurant is at the northwest side of the lake, on the west side of the Narrows. The restaurant has piers at which you can dock.), ☏ +1 508 943-2222. 11:30AM-11PM daily. Woman-owned waterfront bar and restaurant. Accessible via boat as well as by car. $10-$20.
Cafe
[edit]- 4 The Rose Room Cafe, 4 E Main St, ☏ +1 508 461-5344. 7AM-3PM daily. $20-$30.
Brunch and dinner
[edit]- 5 Mama's Kitchen, 595 S Main St, ☏ +1 508 461-7615. W-F 7:30AM-8PM, Sa Su 7:30AM-2PM, closed M and Tu. Serves home kitchen style breakfast-brunches and dinners; also has a bar
Bar and grill
[edit]- 6 Saloon No. 6, 141 Worcester Rd, ☏ +15084617216. Su-W 11:30AM-11PM, Th-Sa 11:30AM-midnight. Dine-in only bar and restaurant. Est. 2022. $20-30.
African
[edit]- 7 Afro Fusion Restaurant, 548 S Main St, ☏ +1 508 461-6329. Su-Th 11:30AM-9:30PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10PM. Afro fusion cuisine. Black-woman-owned. $10-20.
Asian
[edit]- 8 Thai Lemongrass, 129 E Main St (it can be reached either by the East Main Plaza parking lot on E Main Str, or else from Emil St off of Rachicot St), ☏ +1 508 461-5388. Thai restaurant that offers dine-in and pick-up. $10-20.
- 9 Eastern Pearl, 290 Main St, ☏ +1 508 671-9288. M W Th 11AM-10PM, F, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM, Tu closed. East Asian restaurant with both dine-in and pick-up
- 10 Himalaya Wok, 68 E Main St, ☏ +1 508 949, -)2420. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. Asian restaurant with dine-in and pick-up $10-20.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Polish American Citizen Club, 37 Harris St, ☏ +1 508 667 -4988. M 5–10PM, Tu closed, W noon–10PM, Th noon–11PM, F Sa noon–1 AM, Su noon–10PM. Contains a full-service bar with beer, liquor, wine, and a draft selection. The venue also has a function hall that can be booked for events.
- 2 The Mill @ French River, 9 Frederick St, ☏ +1 508 461-5050. M-Th 3-9PM, F 3-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM. Bar and event center located in a historic mill building.
- 3 Kosciuszko Society (Bush Hall), 10 Dresser St (take Lake St either westbound if of off Thompson Road, or east bound if off of Main St or S Main; Dresser St will be on the right if westbound, left if eastbound), ☏ +1 508 943-9863. A beer hall named after a hero of the American Revolution. $10-20.
- 4 The Swingin' Chicken, 138 Lake St, ☏ +1 508 461-6300. M-Th 3-11PM, F 3PM-1AM, Sa noon-1AM, Su noon-11PM. Bar with dine-in and takeout food options. Open late.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Wrecked At Ron's, Webster Lake, 2 S Point Rd, ☏ +1 978 514-5624. Lakefront rental vacation homes. You can also book boats provided by the facility. Prices vary based on seasonality and the type of rental.
Go next
[edit]Visit Worcester to take in a baseball game, a museum, or see a concert
Explore nearby Putnam and Connecticut's Quiet Corner
Experience early 19th-century New England at Old Sturbridge Village
| Routes through Webster |
Worcester via  ← Oxford → Auburn ←
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N  S
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→ Norwich → New Haven via 
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| END ← | W  E
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→ Jct N  S → Milford
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